Chapter 1: Purpose and Need

Transcription

1 Chapter 1: Purpose and Need 1.1 Introduction The purpose of the Stony Project is to implement the 2004 Superior National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). The project s proposed activities are designed to move the vegetation in the project area from its existing condition toward the desired conditions described in the Forest Plan. The key objectives of the Stony Project are to promote diverse, productive, and healthy wildlife habitat and ecosystems; reduce hazardous fuels; provide sustainable forest products; and manage for the minimum road system. Other objectives are described further in this document. Activities proposed to accomplish these objectives include creating young forest stands with regeneration harvests, improving growing conditions without harvest (such as planting long lived tree species to enhance riparian areas) and reducing fuel hazards. Additional proposed actions include constructing and decommissioning temporary roads to access treatment units and decommissioning roads no longer needed. The Stony Project Area is located in Cook and Lake County, Minnesota. The Vicinity Map (Figure 1.1) shows the general location of the Stony Project Area. Townships included in the project area, from west to east, are Township (T) 58 North (N) Range (R) 10 West (W), 9W, 8W, 7W, 6W; T59N, R10W, R9W, R8W, R7W, R6W, R5W; T60N, R7W, R6W, R5W. The Stony Project Area encompasses approximately 81,000 acres, of which, about 47,000 acres are National Forest System land. Proposed activities would occur only on National Forest System lands. This environmental assessment was prepared by an interdisciplinary team of resource specialists to provide the decision-maker, the Tofte District Ranger, and the public with information about the potential effects of proposed vegetation management activities and connected road actions in the Stony Project Area. If a decision is made to implement these activities, the proposed actions would be implemented at the beginning of year Implementation of the primary treatments would be expected to occur over the next ten to fifteen years. 1.2 Forest Plan Direction for the Stony Project Area Management Areas The interdisciplinary team used Forest Plan Management Area direction to guide the development of the purpose and need for the Stony Project as well as development of the Proposed Action. The following sections are brief summaries of the desired vegetation for the three main Management Areas in the Stony Project Area where actions are proposed. The Stony Project Area Vicinity Map (Figure 1.1) displays these management areas. Candidate Research Natural Area In the Candidate Research Natural Area the vegetation is managed in the same manner as existing Research Natural Areas; ecological processes prevail with minimum human intervention. Candidate Research Natural Areas act as examples of minimally disturbed natural January Chapter 1

2 Figure 1.1: Stony Project Area Vicinity Map. January Chapter 1

3 ecosystems or biodiversity reserves for non-manipulative research, observation, and study as well as for educational activities. Research Natural Areas and Candidate Research Natural Areas are not meant for uses that directly or indirectly modify ecological processes. However, if it is determined that there is a need for management within these areas to help maintain the ecosystem or unique features for which the crna was designated, or to re-establish natural processes, the Research Station Director must concurrently review and approve applications for proposed activities. General Forest Management Area In the General Forest Management Area, the desired condition is that the forest is a variety of stand sizes, shapes, crown closures, and age structures. Natural disturbances to the landscape are mimicked through management activities, such as timber harvest and management-ignited fires. A full range of silvicultural practices are used when managing the vegetation. Also in the General Forest Management Area larger patch sizes are emphasized, especially those patches associated with young, even-aged vegetative conditions. The vegetation would be managed to generally represent young to mature (0 to 150 year old) vegetative growth stages, with more even-aged management than in the General Forest Longer Rotation Management Area. Areas disturbed through management activities are generally quickly revegetated with some recently harvested areas retaining a partial canopy of older trees. General Forest-Longer Rotation Management Area In the General Forest-Longer Rotation Management Area the desired condition for the forest is a variety of stand sizes, shapes, crown closures, and age structures. In the General Forest-Long Rotation Management Area, vegetation will be managed to represent young to old (0 to 250 year old) vegetative growth stages. Some larger patch sizes would occur within this area, although those associated with young, even-aged, vegetative conditions would be less frequent than in the General Forest Management Area. Generally practices mimic less severe stand maintenance disturbance, along with some management practices that mimic stand replacement disturbance. A full range of silvicultural practices are used when managing the vegetation. Compared to General Forest Management Areas, General Forest-Longer Rotation Management Areas have more uneven aged and partial cut harvests resulting in more uneven aged and multi-aged forests. Also, clearcutting is often done at longer rotation ages in General Forest-Longer Rotation Management Areas than clearcutting in the General Forest Management Areas. Landscape Ecosystems Landscape Ecosystems (LE) are ecological areas characterized by their dominant vegetation communities and patterns that are a product of local climate, glacial topography, dominant soils, and natural processes, such as succession, fire, wind, insects, and disease (FP, p. 2-55). The Forest Plan uses landscape ecosystems to outline management objectives for forest vegetation composition, age class, tree species diversity, and Management Indicator Habitats (MIH). Management in each landscape ecosystem would maintain or restore the forest to conditions more representative of native plant communities and landscape scale patterns. January Chapter 1

4 Management Indicator Habitats represent the habitats used by a wide variety of native plants and animals, including management indicator species and sensitive species. MIH provide a means of monitoring and evaluating the effects of actions on biotic resources including specific species, communities, habitats, and interrelationships among organisms. Managing for MIH objectives is a key component of providing for the full diversity of desired wildlife habitats. The dominant landscape ecosystems in the Stony Project Area are the Mesic Birch/Aspen/Spruce-fir and Lowland Conifer B Landscape Ecosystems (Table 1.1). A map displaying the landscape ecosystems in the Stony Project Area is on the Superior National Forest website and is available upon request. Tables 1.2 through 1.5 display the age class and composition of these landscape ecosystems in the Stony Project Area and Forest-wide. Forest Plan objectives for age class and composition are applicable to an entire landscape ecosystem; they are not directly applicable to smaller project areas. However, management actions in project areas, such as the Stony Project Area, contribute to meeting Forest-wide Landscape Ecosystem Objectives based on opportunities in the project area. Table 1.1: Stony Project Area Summarized by Landscape Ecosystem. Landscape Ecosystem Acres 1 % of Area Mesic Birch/Aspen/Spruce-fir 22, Lowland Conifer B (MRW-MBASF) 10, Lowland Non-forest 5, Cedar 4,203 9 Sugar Maple 3,645 8 Mesic Red and White Pine Lowland Conifer A (JPBS-DMRWP) Dry-mesic Red and White Pine Lowland Conifer C (Mesic Sugar Maple) 190 <1 Jack Pine Black Spruce 186 <1 Upland Non-forest 200 <1 Lowland Hardwoods 12 <1 TOTAL: 47, data extracted from run1 of Stony data runs; total may be slightly off due to rounding. Table 1.2: Mesic Birch/Aspen/Spruce-Fir LE Vegetation Composition in Stony Project Area, Forest-wide and in Forest Plan Objectives. Forest Type Forest Plan Stony Project Area Forest-wide Objectives Decade 2 (2024) Acres % % % Jack Pine 1, Red Pine White Pine Spruce-Fir 8, N. Hardwoods Aspen 5, Paper Birch 5, TOTAL: 21, data extracted from run1 of Stony data runs; total may be slightly off due to rounding. January Chapter 1

5 Table1.3: Mesic Birch/Aspen/Spruce-Fir LE Age Class Distribution in Stony Project Area, Forest-wide and in Forest Plan Objectives. Age Class Forest Plan Stony Project Area Forest-wide Objectives Decade 2 (2024) Acres % % % , , , , TOTAL: 22, data extracted from run1 of Stony data runs; total may be slightly off due to rounding. Table 1.4: Lowland Conifer B LE Vegetation Composition in the Stony Project Area, Forest-wide and in Forest Plan Objectives. Forest Type Stony Project Forest Plan Forest-wide Area Objectives Decade 2 (2024) Acres % % % Lowland Black Spruce 9, Tamarack TOTAL: 9, data extracted from run1 of Stony data runs; total may be slightly off due to rounding. Table 1.5: Lowland Conifer B LE Age Class Distribution in Stony Project Area, Forest-wide and in Forest Plan Objectives. Stony Project Area Age Class Forest-wide Forest Plan Objectives Decade 2 (2024) Acres % % % , , TOTAL: 10, Purpose and Need for Action An interdisciplinary team of natural resource specialists compared the desired conditions and objectives in the Forest Plan with the existing condition of the Stony Project Area. This analysis called the Stony Mid-level Assessment, considered all resources (vegetation, recreation, wildlife, watershed, etc.) and recommended possible opportunities to move the project area toward desired conditions. Using this assessment, the District Ranger selected which needs would be addressed through the Stony Project. January Chapter 1

6 Need to Promote Diverse, Productive and Healthy Wildlife Habitats and Ecosystems A diverse, productive, and healthy ecosystem contains a certain distribution of age classes, vegetation composition and within-stand diversity that is based on the dominant features and capabilities of the landscape ecosystem. There is a need to move the vegetation toward Landscape Ecosystem objectives and Management Indicator Habitat objectives described in the Forest Plan (O-VG-1, FP p. 2-23). Forest Plan objectives for each landscape ecosystem are designed to maintain or restore the forest to conditions more representative of native plant communities and for the full diversity of desired wildlife habitats at a broad scale. These desired conditions for age class, composition, and diversity would begin to bring the ecosystems closer to the range of natural variability, increasing resiliency of the forest. The assumption is that a forest closer to natural conditions is likely to be sustainable in an ecological sense, ensuring the long-term persistence of all components of the ecosystem and the functioning relationship among the components (Minnesota Forest Resource Council Northeast Landscape Management Plan, 2003). In addition, managing for resiliency of the forest is one action that can be taken to enhance the ability of ecosystems to adapt to climate change and its effects. Forests that are well-adapted to climate change and climate variability may be better poised to persist or even thrive under future conditions, and to meet goals for forest management (Swantson, 2012). The following specific components of diverse, healthy ecosystems and wildlife habitat will be addressed in the Stony Project: Create young forest (young age class) Disturbance is a natural and vital part of landscape ecosystems which created young forests. Historically, both of the dominant landscape ecosystems in the Stony Project Area were influenced in varying degrees by fire. In the Mesic Birch/Aspen/Spruce-fir Landscape Ecosystem, stand replacement fires occurred every 100 to 200 years. These fires were the primary method of regenerating the forest and influenced composition of trees species, with aspen and birch rapidly colonizing the burned areas. In the Lowland Conifer Landscape Ecosystem, fire occurred between 150 to 300 years. The semi-closed cones of black spruce provided abundant seeds after a stand replacement fire (Forest Plan Revision FEIS Appendix G). After European settlement, timber harvest replaced fire as the major disturbance agent that created young forest in northern Minnesota. Young forest provides habitat needs for wildlife species including moose and deer (young aspen/birch), snowshoe hare (young conifer), and some songbirds (such as mourning warbler young aspen/birch or chipping sparrow young conifer). The young forest created through disturbance contributes to a healthy, diverse forest and continues to provide a component of young forest that is desired in the Forest Plan objectives. The young age class (0 to 9 years) objective is 11 percent for the Mesic Birch/Aspen/Spruce-fir Landscape Ecosystem and 3 percent for the Lowland Conifer (B) Landscape Ecosystem. Currently, across all landscape ecosystems in the Stony Project area, there is about 200 acres of young forest which is about one percent of the project area. This small amount of young forest in the Stony Project Area contributes little to meeting Forest Plan Landscape Ecosystem Objectives. In addition, all of the current acres of young forest will grow out of the young age class within ten years. Outside of the wilderness, there are few opportunities to let fire burn as it did historically; therefore, fire is limited as a stand renewing disturbance agent. Actions are January Chapter 1

7 needed to create young forest that would provide wildlife habitat and a diverse functioning ecosystem. Management actions are also needed to maintain a component of early successional species of aspen or birch in the ecosystem. Figure 1.2: An Example of Young Aspen-Birch Forest. Increase within-stand diversity Some stands in the Stony Project Area have little within-stand structural diversity (top to bottom configuration of vegetation), such as multiple vegetation layers or tree species diversity. The stands may contain only a single tree species in the overstory and/or have understories that are dominated by brush. A Forest Plan desired condition is to increase within-stand structural and tree species diversity. In the Mesic Birch/Aspen/Spruce-Fir Landscape Ecosystem, an increase in paper birch is desired. Actions are needed in stands with little diversity to improve the structural and species diversity. By increasing diversity, stands generally become more resilient to disturbance and wildlife habitat quality is generally improved. Improve productivity of stands with low tree stocking The forest cover (trees) in a few upland stands is undergoing heavy mortality as a natural part of aging. Typically, regeneration of shade tolerant species, such as balsam fir, begins establishing itself in the understory as the overstory dies. However, in some stands in the Stony Project Area regeneration is not occurring as the overstory is falling over; these stands are becoming dominated by shrubs with few trees and need forest management actions to reestablish tree species and diversity. Forest Plan objectives are to reestablish adequately stocked stands to maintain forest continuum (D-VG-7, FP, p. 2-22) and address timber management objectives where there is adequate ecological representation of brush species (O-VG-12, FP, p. 2-24). January Chapter 1

8 Improve moose habitat The moose population in Northeastern Minnesota has been declining for the last ten years. Causes for the decline have been attributed to disease, parasites, warming temperatures, higher deer densities, and changes in habitat; however, causes are still being investigated. The Minnesota Moose Research and Management Plan developed to address concerns about the declining population, makes habitat management recommendations including: increasing stand complexity, following natural disturbance patterns, encouraging browse species, and protecting and enhancing summer thermal cover (MNDNR, 2011). The Stony Project Area is located within Minnesota s primary moose range. Aerial surveys have identified the Stony Project Area as having moderate moose density numbers compared to the surrounding landscapes. Vegetation management activities could improve moose foraging and thermal cover habitat in this area. Regeneration through harvest of some of these mature stands is needed to stimulate new growth of young trees and shrubs which would provide browse for moose. The retention and increase of conifers in stands would increase stand complexity and provide long-term thermal cover for moose. Locating treatment units adjacent to wetlands, lowland black spruce, and riparian forests would provide thermal cover adjacent to new browse. Improve riparian function A well-functioning riparian forest often includes long-lived conifer species. Forest Plan desired condition for riparian areas favors management of long-lived tree species suitable for the site (such as white pine, red pine, black spruce, tamarack, etc.), to benefit riparian and aquatic habitat conditions (O-WS-3, 4, 5, FP p. 2-12). These long-lived species contribute to the function of riparian areas by, for example, contributing coarse wood to streams and lakes in the long term, thereby increasing watershed health. Some riparian areas in the Stony Project Area are comprised of old aspen and birch forest which are beginning to die and are being replaced by balsam fir (a short-lived species) and brush. The thick understory of brush or balsam fir regeneration is hindering natural regeneration of long- Figure 1.3: Moose Foraging in Young Aspen Stand. Figure 1.4: Example of Balsam Fir as the Primary Regeneration in a Riparian Area. January Chapter 1

9 lived species. There is a need to take action to improve the condition of these riparian areas by increasing the amount of longer-lived conifer regeneration. In addition to maintaining a well-functioning riparian forest with long-lived conifers, large wood recruitment in streams and the littoral zone of lakes can benefit the nutrient cycling, littoral production, and provide refuges from predation. Some of the lakes in the Stony Project Area are lacking large wood, and there is a need to improve this condition through recruiting it in the lake systems. Improve health in lowland black spruce stands Eastern dwarf mistletoe (EDM) is a naturally occurring parasitic plant that infects black spruce, among other species. Mistletoe kills both mature and young black spruce trees and spreads from explosive seed pods, as well as birds and animals. Eastern dwarf mistletoe usually spreads 2.4 feet per year (Baker et al. 2006). Infected branches form witches brooms (see photo) that mine nutrients from the trees, causing the trees to decline and eventually die. Infected trees typically die within fifteen years of infection. Balsam fir or tamarack will come into some dead black spruce stands but some will become brushy and loose forest cover. There is a need to stop the spread of Eastern dwarf mistletoe to uninfected areas and to establish young healthy black spruce. Figure 1.5: Eastern Dwarf Mistletoe Photo from Baker et al Improve health and productivity in red pine and white spruce plantations Some red pine and white spruce plantations in the Stony Project Area are densely stocked and overcrowded. There is little structural or species diversity in some plantations as a result of techniques used during establishment of the plantation. As the trees have grown, they have become more tightly spaced with little growing room for the planted trees or light for any other forbs, shrubs, and trees species. Forest Plan direction is to increase the amount of forest restored to or maintained in a healthy condition to reduce risk of and damage from fires, insects, and diseases (FP O-ID-1). There is a need to reduce stand density; thereby increasing growing space for the residual trees and maintaining a high rate of growth. A high level of stand vigor decreases susceptibility to insect and disease outbreaks. Increased growing space is also needed to hasten the development of a more natural mix of species type and structure in these red pine and white spruce communities. Need to Reduce Hazardous Fuels An accumulation of hazardous fuels (natural and activity) can increase the risk of unwanted wildland fire and cause damage to values, such as structures, improvements, or ecosystem components. The Forest Plan desired condition is one in which accumulations of natural and activity fuels are treated to enhance ecosystem resiliency and maintain desired fuel levels (D-ID- 4, FP p. 2-19). In order to meet that desired condition, the Forest Plan gives guidance to treat areas of highest fire risk to minimize effects of unwanted wildland fire (O-ID-3, FP p. 2-19). January Chapter 1

10 A fuel hazard and risk assessment (completed during the mid-level analysis) documented an accumulation of hazardous fuels within the Stony Project Area, with over 11,000 acres rated as high fire risk. The fuel hazard primarily occurs in old forests of aspen and birch with a high percentage of dead and downed trees and thick regenerating balsam fir (a highly flammable species). Left untreated, the combination of understory and overstory fuel loading creates a continuous fuel path for fire to spread from the ground into the canopy, creating high severity crown fires. Fuel hazards have also been identified in mid to old aged pine and spruce stands where understory balsam fir accumulations of dead and down fuels and conifer tree crowns provide a continuous fuel path that would result in extreme fire behavior. High intensity fires decrease firefighter effectiveness to manage fires and increase the chance of losing desired ecosystem components. Fuel accumulation is of highest concern in the Wildland Urban Interface areas (areas where flammable wildland fuels are adjacent to homes and communities). Within the Stony Project Area, the areas of highest concern are the Crooked-Ninemile Lakes and Tanner-Dumbbell Lakes Wildland Urban Interface areas in Lake County. Figure 1.6: Examples of Balsam Fir Creating Fuel Hazard in the Understory of a Decadent Birch Stand and Along an Access Road. There is a need to take action to reduce hazardous fuels within the Wildland Urban Interface areas in the project area. By breaking up continuity and reducing concentrations of hazardous fuels, the potential for extreme fire behavior is lessened. This creates more defensible space around values at risk in the event of a wildfire. Need to Manage for the Minimum Road System The Forest Plan direction is to maintain the minimum National Forest road system needed to provide adequate access to both National Forest System and non-national Forest System land (D-TS-1, FP, p. 2-47). There are opportunities to decommission roads in the Stony Project Area that are no longer needed for projected forest management. January Chapter 1

11 Need to Provide Sustainable Timber Products The desired condition is that The amount of commercial timber sales available for purchase is at a level that is sustainable over time and that Mills operating in northern Minnesota can depend on a consistent level of timber harvest on the National Forest (D-TM-1, FP p. 2-20). Timber harvesting on the suitable forestland within the project area would meet the needs of sustaining a healthy forest and providing an economic opportunity to local communities. Vegetation management has the opportunity to provide wood products, such as pulp, sawtimber, firewood and biomass, for homes, businesses and mills in northern Minnesota. Less than 7,000 acres of forest within the Stony Project Area have been identified as needing some type of treatment in order to balance age class distribution or species composition, improve wildlife habitat, improve stand health and productivity, and reduce hazardous fuels. These objectives could be accomplished through the sale of marketable wood products. Figure 1.7: Timber Products from Previous Timber Sale. 1.4 Proposed Action The interdisciplinary team identified potential actions to accomplish the purpose and need for the Stony Project. The team used vegetation, soils, and other resource data as well as field reconnaissance by foresters, biologists, fuels technicians, engineering technicians and other resource specialists to develop the Proposed Action. The team strived to develop actions that would meet multiple objectives and best meet the purpose and need. While developing the Proposed Action, the interdisciplinary team collaborated with tribal representatives from 1854 Authority and Grand Portage, Fond du Lac, and Bois Forte Bands of the Lake Superior Chippewa. Issues discussed with tribal representatives included moose management, access for exercising treaty rights in the project area and management of maple forests. Tribal and Forest Service biologists continue to work together to address habitat management for moose on vegetation management projects across the Tofte District. There are about 1,500 acres of sugar maple forests in the Stony Project Area of interest to the Bands. Sugar maple forests have in the past been areas for sugar bushing (production of maple syrup), so management of these forests is of interest to the Bands. The interdisciplinary team also collaborated with and reviewed data from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) personnel. Personnel shared data and expertise on management of moose habitat, Native Plant Communities, and biodiversity areas. The interdisciplinary team gathered input and ideas from members of the Manitou Collaborative in designing the proposed action. Since 2000 the Manitou Collaborative, a group of public and private landowners, has been striving to conserve and manage the ecological, recreational, and economic values within a 100,000 acre landscape near Finland, Minnesota. This landscape January Chapter 1

12 covers most of the eastern half of the Stony Project Area. Partners of the collaborative include the Minnesota DNR, The Nature Conservancy, Lake County, Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, the Minnesota Forest Resources Council, and the USDA Forest Service. While developing the Proposed Action, the interdisciplinary team considered the best available information on observed and projected climate trends and anticipated impacts to forests. The team worked with staff from the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science to consider adaption strategies or incremental adjustments for the Stony Project. These strategies or adjustments will help put forests in a better position to adapt or become more resilient to continued climate change. More information on climate change trends and tactics can be found in section 2.2 of this document and in the Stony Project Climate Change and Cumulative Actions document, which is available upon request. A scoping report that described the Proposed Action was distributed to the public in June 2015 and the public was invited to submit comments. The interdisciplinary team modified the Proposed Action based on further evaluation of the existing condition. The intent of the Proposed Action remained intact with some modifications. The primary modifications are: 1. To improve accuracy, unit boundaries were updated from recent field reconnaissance and aerial photo delineation. This resulted in changes in unit acres, forest type, and proposed treatments. 2. Upon further review by the interdisciplinary team, prescription details for harvesting and reforestation were changed to more accurately reflect site conditions to ensure reforestation objectives would be met. 3. The interdisciplinary team added areas around the proposed Tanner Lake burn as burn inclusions; where fire would be allowed to creep into for the safe and effective implementation of this project. 4. The interdisciplinary team changed the primary treatment in the Manitou Patch from partial harvest to non-harvest site preparation, because a commercial timber sale would not be feasible due to low amount of merchantable volume. The proposed non-harvest site preparation treatment will also meet fuels reduction objectives. 5. Some lowland black spruce dwarf mistletoe treatment units were dropped due to a combination of the following factors: a long temporary winter road being needed; a lack of merchantable timber; an adequate stocking of tamarack that indicated tamarack would be the dominate species in the stand over time. 6. Temporary roads were identified to some Mechanical Site Preparation Units because access to the unit may require development of a low standard temporary road. A detailed listing of all changes in the Proposed Action is in the Stony Project Record (StonyChangesScopetoEA). The Stony Project EA analyzes the Modified Proposed Action as described below. Vegetation Treatments A summary of acres proposed by treatment is shown in Table 1.6. Unit acres are based on stand acres in our database. Treatment acres are an estimate of what will be treated and are less than unit acres due to legacy patches, sensitive soils, inoperable areas, and other limiting factors. January Chapter 1

13 Table 1:6 Summary of Proposed Action by Primary Treatment. Unit Treatment Description Acres Treatment Acres Treatments that create young forest Broadcast Burn Burn Inclusion Clearcut with Reserves Harvest 2,130 1,532 Clearcut Harvest Seed-tree Harvest Treatments that create multi-aged forest through uneven-aged harvest Partial Harvest Treatments that improve stand conditions through intermediate harvest Commercial Thinning Pre-commercial Thinning Treatments that restore stands through a variety of non-harvest activities Non-Harvest Site Preparation Riparian planting Underplant Understory Fuels Reduction 1,482 1,373 Understory Fuels Reduction/Riparian Planting Total of all Treatment Types 6,934 5,031 Data extracted from StonyModProposedAction_For_EA.gdb Road management Two roads within the project area, Forest Road (FR) 393J (0.7 miles) and FR 365B (0.3 miles), are proposed to be decommissioned. These roads are not expected to be needed in the long term. Figure 2.1 shows the location of the roads. Approximately 28 miles of temporary roads would be constructed to access the proposed treatment units. All temporary roads would be effectively closed to motorized traffic as soon as the treatments are complete and access is no longer needed. 1.5 Decision to be Made Based on the purpose and need for action for the Stony Project, the scope of the project includes decisions concerning vegetation management activities and related transportation system activities. The Tofte District Ranger will decide whether or not to implement any of the proposed management activities. If the District Ranger decides to conduct management activities, he/she will decide on the following: The amount and type of vegetation treatment activities, including reforestation. The amount and type of related transportation system activities. Relevant mitigation measures and monitoring actions. The District Ranger will also decide if the proposed management activities would have a significant impact that would trigger the need to prepare an environmental impact statement. January Chapter 1

14 1. 6 Public Involvement and Issues with the Proposed Action Public, community and agency involvement has been an integral component of the Stony Project and has occurred throughout the development of the purpose and need, proposed action, issues, and alternatives. The interdisciplinary team utilized several methods to inform the public about the scoping comment period for the Stony Project. In June 2015 a scoping package requesting comments was mailed to over 200 individuals, groups, and agencies who either own land within the project area or who have expressed an interest in these types of projects. The scoping package was also available online at Also, the Stony Project was listed in the Superior Quarterly (a Schedule of Proposed Actions for the Superior National Forest) starting in July 1, To date, 21 written and verbal responses were received from individuals, groups, and agencies. Responses ranged from simply wishing to remain on the project mailing list to detailed pages of comments about different aspects of the project. Issues The purpose of scoping is to identify key environmental issues deserving of further study and to de-emphasize other issues in the environmental effects analysis (40 CFR g). Issues are defined as points of disagreement, debate, or dispute about potential effects of a proposed activity and are based on some anticipated outcome. All comments received were considered by the interdisciplinary team and District Ranger. The interdisciplinary team placed the comments into one of four categories and determined the best way to address the comment in the environmental analysis. Categories of comments include: 1) Issues Analyzed in the Environmental Assessment, 2) Alternatives, Mitigation Measures, and Changes to Proposed Action, 3) Non-issue Comments and Questions, or 4) Comments Noted. Comments received during scoping can be found in Appendix A: Response to Comments. Through the analysis of public comments, the interdisciplinary team identified issues that need to be analyzed in the Environmental Assessment. Issues identified include concern about impacts from harvest and temporary roads construction to water resources, moose habitat, soil resources, sensitive species, the Candidate Research Natural Area, and the spread of non-native invasive plants. These issues are analyzed in the Environmental Assessment but were not used to develop an alternative because: 1) the issues have been addressed by Forest Plan standards and guidelines or project mitigation measures, or 2) the issues are small within the scope of the proposed action or would result in minimal impacts with little difference between alternatives. Administrative Objections The Stony Project decision is subject to objections following Forest Service regulations at 36 CFR 218, Subparts A and B. Only individuals or organizations who submit timely and specific written comments (as defined at 36 CFR 218.2) about this project during the scoping period or the comment period on the Environmental Assessment are eligible to file an objection to the Stony Project. The opportunity to object will be provided when a draft decision on the project is published, after public comment on this Environmental Assessment is considered. January Chapter 1